Top 10: D-Day Games

Number 7

Close Combat: Invasion Normandy

PC

There are a ton of WWII simulators out there, but Close Combat: Invasion Normandy stands out for its management system, which allows you to choose the units that fight these battles. You can swap out the ineffective bazooka troops for additional snipers or machine gunners. Choose wisely though; the Krauts will easily cut down a squad that is following ill-advised orders. War buffs especially appreciated fighting through an accurate map of Normandy, fighting through beaches and cities and taking each area one piece at a time.

Number 6

Battlefield 1942

PC

At the time of its release, Battlefield 1942 was one of the most popular shooters. The Omaha Beach map finally gave players the chance to play as German soldiers from the pill boxes. Online, it was an absolute rush to see waves of Allied soldiers storming the beach and trying to take you out, and the well-designed map provided a great balance for both sides. It was an awesome feeling to get in behind the pill boxes, playing as an American, storm inside the door and shoot a Kraut in the back.

Number 5

Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30

Xbox

Just after midnight on D-Day, hours before the landing craft made their way to the shores of Normandy, paratroopers from the 101st and 82nd Airborne parachuted behind German lines. Their goal: to disrupt the defenses and forestall the inevitable counter attacks, which would be launched once the Allied troops landed on the beaches. Through a disastrous series of missed DZs, paratroopers found themselves far from their original target and far from the other members of their company. Perhaps no game captures the initial struggles of these paratroopers better than BIA. From the initial jump out of a burning airplane, it’s a completely riveting game.

Number 4

Medal of Honor: Frontline

PS2

The first World War II shooter on the PlayStation 2 console was a huge hit thanks to the opening D-Day sequence. The hum of the LCVP's engines, your buddy puking over the side, the zip of bullets and the screams of war sucked everyone into Medal of Honor Frontline. The level is always slightly different: Sometimes, you'll be instantly killed by thunderous bombs on the beach, other times you'll watch as the pots of your squad members fly off and at other times it's amazing to watch as the whole scene unravels around you.